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Underwater Hunter Specialty Diver Course

Authored by Stephen Blumenthal (PADI CD-37817) Mermaids CDC - Pattaya Thailand.

Although we are all divers here and love to look at the fish that we see under the water - they can be tasty too. The under water hunter specialty course has been requested many times and hence an outline has been submitted and accepted.

It is an educational course packed with skills. This course is designed to be an introduction to safe spearfishing, and to help the student diver develop the skills, knowledge and techniques necessary for spear fishing, fish identification and preparation with minimal environmental impact. Everything that we catch we should be eating.

Hunting by its nature is not easy and there is a lot involved. For this reason scuba is not used for spear-fishing under any circumstances. The hunter only uses mask, fins and snorkel, and all fish caught are prepared and eaten by the hunter and his party.

The principals and ideals of PADI Project Aware are to be affirmed and adhered to throughout the training of the Underwater Hunter Specialist.

Prerequisites

To qualify for the under water hunter course, an individual must:

1. Be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization.

2. Be 18 years of age or older.

Equipment required:

• Mask, snorkel and fins (generally longer for free diving) and buoyancy control device or snorkeling vest. 

• Exposure suit appropriate for the local diving environment and depth.

• Quick release weight belt or weight system.

• Complete instrumentation, including a means to monitor depth, time and direction.

• Dive tool or knife.

• Whistle or other surface signaling device.

• Spear gun.

• Buoy or float.

The goals of this course are:

• To develop your practical knowledge of underwater hunting procedures.

• To increase your breath hold surface diving and hunting skills.

• To enable you to plan, organize and make underwater hunting breath hold surface free dives.

• To improve your breath hold surface free diving and hunting ability and provide you with additional supervised experience.

• To encourage you to participate in other specialty training, including PADI Project AWARE - Mermaids is a Project Aware Go-Eco Dive Center.

A world record fish ...

In 1947-48 The International Underwater Spearfishing Association (IUSA) – Standardized rules for the taking of record fish by under water spear fishing among Pacific coast dive clubs in California and Washington headed by Ralph Davis and the LA Fire Department Neptune’s fish records committee, working with Jack Prodanovich and Wally Potts of San Diego Bottom Scratchers. Over subsequent decades these rules were implemented around the world forming the basis for competitions and championships.  The association continues to try to get the sport recognized by the Olympic committee, but as yet has not succeeded. A 398 lb tuna caught by Terry Maas in 1982 - now that's a big fish! For the purpose of a world record, "spear fishing" is defined as the capturing of a wild game fish through the use of a muscle powered spear gun, while free diving. Only fish captured in accordance with the IUSA rules will be considered for a world record. In keeping with the philosophy of ethical and sporting spear fishing practices, free divers must subdue their catch unassisted.

There is no conflict between environmental awareness and taking fish for food if considerations are taken. To avoid multiple catches, waste and making the hunt too ‘easy’ SCUBA is avoided. In accordance with IUSA regulations, the underwater hunter specialty is conducted using free diving techniques.